信用する

§ What does it mean?

The Japanese verb 信用する (しんようする・shin'yō suru) means 'to trust' or 'to have confidence in.' It's a fundamental word for expressing reliance on someone or something. Think of it as believing in the reliability, honesty, or integrity of a person, a company, or even a piece of information. It's often used when you're talking about putting your faith in someone's word or their ability to do something well.

§ When do people use it?

You'll hear and use 信用する in a variety of situations. Here are some common ones:

• Trusting a person: This is probably the most frequent use. You trust a friend, a colleague, or a family member. It implies that you believe they are honest and will do what they say.
• Trusting a company or brand: When you buy products from a particular company, you often 信用する their quality or service.
• Trusting information: If a news source or a website is reliable, you 信用する the information it provides.
• Trusting a system or process: For example, you might 信用する a banking system or a voting process.

It's important to understand that 信用する isn't just about believing someone is telling the truth. It also carries the nuance of relying on their competence or their ability to deliver. If you 信用する someone's judgment, you believe they make good decisions. If you 信用する a doctor, you have confidence in their medical skills.

§ Examples in context

Let's look at some examples to solidify your understanding:

Hint

He rarely trusts people.

Hint

That company lost the trust of its customers.

Notice in the second example, 信用 (shin'yō) is used as a noun, meaning 'trust' or 'credit.' This is very common. You can gain trust (信用を得る・shin'yō wo eru) or lose trust (信用を失う・shin'yō wo ushinau).

Hint

I trust his judgment.

Here, it's about trusting someone's ability to make good decisions. It's not just believing he's honest, but believing he's capable and his judgment is sound.

Hint

This bank is very trustworthy (can be trusted).

When you add できる (dekiru) after 信用する (shinjou suru) to make 信用できる (shinjou dekiru), it means 'trustworthy' or 'reliable'. It describes something or someone that is capable of being trusted. It's a useful way to talk about the quality of trustworthiness itself.

Understanding 信用する is key to expressing how you rely on others and systems in Japanese. Keep practicing these examples, and you'll get a feel for its use quickly.

§ Understanding 信用する (shinyou suru)

Let's break down how to use 信用する (shinyou suru). It means 'to trust' or 'to have confidence in' someone or something. It's a verb that expresses reliance and belief. Think of it as believing in the honesty, ability, or reliability of someone or something.

Japanese Word

信用する (しんようする)

Reading

shinyou suru

Definition

To trust or have confidence in.

CEFR Level

B1

§ Basic Sentence Structure with 信用する

When you use 信用する, you'll generally follow a pattern. The person or thing you trust is marked with the particle を (o) or sometimes に (ni). The verb itself is a する-verb, meaning it functions like 'to do trust'.

§ Using を (o) with 信用する

The most common particle to use with 信用する is を (o). This highlights the object of your trust. It's direct and emphasizes what or whom you are placing your trust in.

Hint

I trust his words.

Hint

We cannot trust that information.

§ Using に (ni) with 信用する

While を is more common, you might sometimes see に (ni) used with 信用する, especially when emphasizing the person or entity in whom the trust is placed. This usage can sometimes feel a bit more indirect, focusing on the recipient of the trust rather than the object itself.

Hint

He is not trusted by anyone.

In this passive example, に marks the agent (by whom). While you can say 「私は彼に信用する」, it's generally less common than 「私は彼を信用する」 when directly stating who you trust. However, in negative or passive constructions, に can be quite natural.

§ Negative Forms and Questions

Like all する-verbs, you can make 信用する negative or into a question easily.

• Negative: 信用しない (shinyou shinai - don't trust), 信用しません (shinyou shimasen - polite negative), 信用できない (shinyou dekinai - cannot trust)
• Question: 信用しますか (shinyou shimasu ka - do you trust?), 信用できるか (shinyou dekiru ka - can you trust?)

Hint

Can his words really be trusted?

Hint

She's the type who doesn't trust anyone.

§ Key Takeaways for 信用する

To sum up, when you use 信用する:

• Use を (o) for the direct object you trust (e.g., words, information, a person's ability).
• Occasionally use に (ni), especially in passive or negative sentences, to mark the person or entity receiving the trust.
• It's a versatile する-verb, so conjugating it is straightforward.
• It primarily conveys intellectual or factual trust.

Practice these structures, and you'll be able to use 信用する effectively in your Japanese conversations!

§ Understanding 信用する in Real Life

You're learning Japanese, and you've come across 信用する (shinyou suru), meaning 'to trust' or 'to have confidence in.' But how does it really get used by native speakers? This isn't just about dictionary definitions. It's about context. Let's look at where and how you'll actually hear and use this word in everyday Japanese situations like work, school, and even the news.

§ At Work: Trust in Professional Settings

In the workplace, 信用する is crucial. It often refers to trusting a colleague's abilities, a company's reliability, or a client's honesty. It's about professional confidence. You'll hear it in discussions about team projects, business deals, or even hiring decisions.

DEFINITION

To trust or have confidence in someone's professional capability or integrity.

Translation hint: "I trust his judgment."

Translation hint: "This company is a trustworthy supplier."

§ At School: Trust in Learning Environments

In a school setting, 信用する can come up when talking about trusting teachers, classmates, or even the information in textbooks. It's about having faith in the educational process and the people involved.

DEFINITION

To trust or have confidence in the reliability of information, a teacher, or a fellow student.

Translation hint: "I trust the teacher's words."

Translation hint: "I trusted the group members and proceeded with the project."

§ In the News: Public Trust and Reporting

When you read or watch the news in Japanese, 信用する often appears in contexts related to public trust, government policies, or the credibility of sources. It's about whether people believe in institutions or statements.

DEFINITION

To trust or have confidence in public figures, institutions, or news reports.

Translation hint: "Many citizens cannot trust the government's announcements."

Translation hint: "This news organization has gained high public trust."

§ Key Takeaways for 信用する

When you encounter 信用する, remember these points:

• It's about having trust or confidence in someone or something.
• The context (work, school, news) will help you understand the nuance of that trust.
• It can be used actively (信用する) or passively (信用できる) and as a noun (信用).

By paying attention to these real-world examples, you'll not only understand 信用する better but also start using it more naturally in your own Japanese conversations. Keep practicing, and you'll master it in no time.